COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The 17th-ranked Texas A&M softball team begins a seven-game road trip as the Aggies travel to Fayetteville this weekend to face Arkansas in a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Bogle Park. Game one between the Aggies and the Razorbacks is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch Friday, followed by game two at 1 p.m. Saturday and the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday. All times are Central.
Fans can follow the action this weekend by listening to each game via 95.1-3 The Zone HD on AggieAthletics.com, RadioAggieland.com or on the Radio Aggieland app.
Instantaneous live mobile stats can be seen from any mobile device, as well as any computer at TAMUstats.com. Live stats will also be available for every game of the 2014 season through AggieAthletics.com. Click on the live stats link on the Aggie softball schedule page any time after first pitch to follow the action.
LAST TIME OUT
Texas A&M dropped a three-game SEC series to then-No. 14 Georgia, 2-1 last weekend at the Aggie Softball Complex. The Bulldogs edged the Aggies in 10 innings in game one, 3-4, and the Aggies tied the series with a 4-2 victory in game two. A 4-2 UGA win in the series finale handed the Bulldogs the series. Freshman Abby Donnell led the team with five RBI on the weekend and two saves in the circle, and was awarded her first SEC Freshman of the Week award.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS
The Razorbacks (23-11) split games at Jackson State on Tuesday night, winning game one 7-4 before dropping a 3-1 decision in game two. Arkansas has hovered around the national polls all season, and took a game off of then-No. 2 Tennessee at home on the first weekend of SEC play. The Razorbacks have also faced Ole Miss in conference action, dropping a 2-1 series to the Rebels to post a 2-4 SEC mark this season. Arkansas has had success at the plate this season, with nine regular starters hitting above .300 in the lineup. Amanda Geile is pacing the team with a .363 average. Devon Wallace’s .733 slugging percentage is an Arkansas best, with five doubles and a team-high nine home runs. In the circle, the Razorbacks are pitching by committee with five hurlers owning records on the year. The team’s 3.65 ERA is highlighted by six shutouts and 166 strikeouts.
VS. THE RAZORBACKS
The Aggies hosted the Razorbacks in their SEC debut last season, sweeping the series to get off to a good start in the conference. Texas A&M and Arkansas have met nine times in history with the Aggies owning a perfect 9-0 record.
DONNELL SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Donnell led the Aggies on the week with five RBI as she became a regular in the batting order at designated player. The rookie baffled No. 14 Georgia’s best pitchers as she hit .467 on the week and added two saves in the circle to continue to lead the league with four saves and 14 games in relief on the season. Practically a stranger to opponents’ offensive scouting reports, Donnell went 7-for-15 at the plate vs. Northwestern State and Georgia, picking up her first extra-base hits – a double and a home run – of the season. In the Aggies’ extra-inning loss to UGA in game one of the series, Donnell contributed the game-tying RBI as well as a solo home run and an infield single. The freshman added two RBI on two hits in game two as Texas A&M evened the series with the Bulldogs, while tossing two perfect innings in relief for the fourth save of her young career. Donnell’s five at bats, three hits and two RBI against Georgia in the game-two win were career highs for the youngster.
EVANS NEARING 700 WINS AT A&M
Texas A&M Head Coach Jo Evans is closing in on her 700th win at Texas A&M. In her 18th season with the Aggies, Evans is just five wins away from the milestone heading into Friday’s game against Arkansas. Also closing in on her 700th win at Texas A&M is Associate Head Coach Joy Jackson, who has been with Evans since day one with the Aggies. Evans reached the 1,000th win of her career on March 1 when the Aggies beat Wisconsin, 6-2. The milestone makes Evans the only active Southeastern Conference coach with 1,000 Division I wins, and one of just eight DI coaches nationwide with 1,000 victories as a DI head coach. The Aggie skipper began her head coaching career at Colorado State, posting a 91-67 record from 1986-89. Taking a job at her alma mater next, Evans led Utah to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) in 1991 and recording a 222-143 mark from 1990-96.
LEAGUE LEADERS
In the latest statistical updates, the Aggies continue to lead the league in runners picked off with eight. Individually, senior Nicole Morgan leads the league with seven pickoffs, ranks second in the SEC with 10 home runs and 29 walks, sits at third in RBI (38) and lists fourth with an .805 slugging percentage. Senior Emily Albus ties for first among league hitters with 48 hits, sits at eighth with a .432 batting average. Donnell has finished more games than any other hurler in the league (14), while tying for first among SEC pitchers with four saves.
RANKING THE AGGIES
Texas A&M started the 2014 season with a No. 11 preseason ranking in both national polls and are currently ranked No. 17 in the NFCA/USA Today Top 25 Poll and No. 20 the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 Poll. The Aggies’ remaining 2014 opponents in the top 25 are No. 3/2 Tennessee, No. 4/4 Florida, No. 10/10 Kentucky, No. 13/14 Georgia and No. 21/21 Auburn.
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Get the latest news, updates and action from Aggie Softball by following the team’s official Twitter account @AggieSoftball. Fans on Facebook can also stay connected by liking the Aggie Softball page (facebook.com/TAMUSoftball).
LISTEN LIVE
Aggie Softball fans worldwide can listen to each game of the 2014 season live on AggieAthletics.com. All contests are provided by The Zone and can be heard on smartphones and HD radios via 95.1-3 The Zone HD on the Radio Aggieland app. Select games are also available in the Bryan-College Station area on Sports Radio 1150 AM. Every game will be live online at RadioAggieland.com and AggieAthletics.com.
MOBILE LIVE STATS
Fans who wish to follow the action of each game this season can also receive free, instantaneous live stats on any computer or smartphone by visiting TAMUstats.com. Users can access current live stats and stats from past games.
WATCH THE AGGIES ONLINE
For the 11th straight season, 12th Man TV will bring Aggies around the globe live video of Texas A&M softball. Fans will be able to watch all non-televised Aggie home games, along with select road games, through the all-new 12th Man TV. Subscription packages start at $11.95/month and include exclusive live and on-demand content not found anywhere else. For more information log on to AggieAthletics.com.
AGGIE SOFTBALL ON TV
The Aggies will play at least five games on national TV this season, beginning with a pair of SEC games vs. Kentucky on Saturday, April 5 at 5 p.m. CT and Sunday, April 6 game noon CT. Both A&M-UK matchups will be broadcast live on FSN South. Of the Aggies’ five televised contests, four will be played at the Aggie Softball Complex. The Aggies will host 2013 national runner-up and top-ranked Tennessee on ESPNU on Friday, April 11 at 7 p.m. CT and Sunday, April 13 at noon CT. A week later the Aggies and No. 3 Florida will face off on ESPNU – Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. CT and Saturday, April 19 at 5 p.m. CT.
In addition to the five regular-season games, the entire SEC tournament, including both play-in games, will be broadcast on ESPN networks. The SEC Tournament is set for May 7-10 in Columbia, S.C.
TICKETS
All tickets may be purchased over the phone at 1-888-99-AGGIE OR 979-845-2311, online at tickets.12thManFoundation.com, or in person at The Zone at Kyle Field ticket office. Season tickets are currently available for just $125. Individual game tickets for softball will go on sale in January and are $10 for reserved (sections 4-8) and $8 for Adult General Admission (sections 1-3). Youth GA tickets are available for $5 each. Group rates are also available to groups of at least 20, and cost $8 for reserved seats and $3 for GA. Texas A&M students with no all-sports option may purchase a student walkup ticket for $5. Junior Aggie Club members are admitted free of charge to all Aggie softball games. Membership to the JAC is just $25, and information is available atwww.JuniorAggieClub.com.
SEASON PROMOTIONS
Each game at the Aggie Softball Complex features special promotions and incentives for fans in attendance. To check out updates to the team’s full 2014 promotional calendar, go to www.AggieAthletics.com/promotions.
PARKING
Parking for all Aggie softball games is available in Lot 100 at both Reed Arena and Olsen Field. For games that do not conflict with baseball, the entry gate on the Reed Arena side of the stadium will not be opened; fans are encouraged to park at Olsen Field for those games to allow easy access to the stadium entrance. Visitors may park for free when there is not a conflict with an A&M men’s basketball or baseball game. This does not include 24-hour numbered, 12th Man or timed spaces. Visit transportation.tamu.edu for more information.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M will continue its seven-game road trip with a midweek matchup at Houston on Wednesday, April 2. The Aggies and Cougars were scheduled to face off on Feb. 26, but rain forced the teams to postpone. To learn more about Texas A&M softball, log on to AggieAthletics.com and follow @AggieSoftball on Twitter.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics